Tank-car valve-operating mechanism



April 21, 1925. 1,534,137

A. E. OSTRANDER TANK CAR VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l MX, VW

April 21, 19215.

1,534,137 A. AE. OSTRANDER TANK CAR VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1921` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y ism Patented Apu 2l., 1925.

* iiNiTED STATES ALLEN E. os'rEANnEE, ory EIDGEwoon, NEW JEEsEv, AND EOUNDEY COMPANY, or sr. Louis, ivirssoUEI,

SEY..

ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAR A CORPORATION OF NEW'v JER- TANK-CAR VALVE-OPERATING- MECHANISM.

Application filed February 19, 1921.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be itknown that I, ALLEN E. OST ANDER, residing at Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State ot Newilersey, and being a citizen of the United States, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Tank-Car Valve-perating Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make'and lto use the same, reference being Vhad to the accompanying drawings, which 'illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the inventionfis not limited to the eXact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof withinthe scope of the claims will occur 'to persons skilled in the art.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a. view proved. tank car valve and manhole cover; Figure v1a is a view in menta'ry portion of the in 'section of my imoperating mechanism operating mechan- Figure 2 is a section 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a section of a modified form of my device;

Figure 4t is a section taken on the line 4`4 ot Fig. 3; and

VFigure 5 is a section taken. on the line 5 5 ot Fig. 3.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved tank car valve operating mechanism and manhole cover so related that'the manhole cover cannot be properly positioned on its seat to close the tank opening unless the tank discharge valve has been properly seateiil and it is also an object of my inventic-iiY to provide a means whereby if the tank discharge valve is not properly` seated it will be properly seated by the seating of' the manhole cover and it is also an object of my invention to have such valve seating means permit ofy the' unseating ot the manhole cover without unseating the tank discharge falve.

ln the drawings, 1 designates the dome Sheet ef the usual tank car dome having a taken on the line spaced lugs 17 section of a frag- Y Serial No. 445,294.

dome head 2 secured thereto in the usual manner. Secured to the sheet 1 by rivets 3 is a bracket 4 having a screw threaded opening 5 iii which is mounted a screw threaded sleeve 6. The sleeve 6 is provided with a cylindrical bore 7, closed at one end by the wall 8 and of slightly greater diameter for a portion of its length at the other or open end. About midway of its length, the sleeve 6 is' provided with a disk-like collar 9 having a plurality ot wedge-shaped blocks 10 projecting from its ripper face. Sleeved about the sleeve 6 and resting upon the collar 9 is the hub 11 ofthe hand wheel 12 having spokes connecting theihub 11 to a rim 13 provided with gear teeth 14.

Two of the spokes 15 are joined, for a part of their length', by a web 16 having on the under face thereof and a gravity operated pawl 18 pivotally mounted between the lugs 17. the pawl 18 being designed to engage with the pro]ections 10V to cause the sleeve 6 to rotate with the hand wheel 12 when the hand wheel 12 is rotated in one direction and to ride over the projections 10 and not operate the sleeve 6 when the hand wheel 12 is rotated in the opposite direction. To rotate the sleeve 6 in the opposite direction, the hub 11 of the hand wheel 12 is provided with undercut slots 19 in its upper end adapted to engage the heads of' the rivet 20 in the upper end of the sleeve 6.

Into the enlarged portion of the bore 'i' in the sleeve 6 is inserted the upper end ot the valve rod 21, the rod 21 having a limited movement in the bore 7 determined by the engagement of the pin 22, mounted. in the sleeve 6, with the ends of the slot 23 in the rod 21. A. spring 24. surrounds the rod 2l and is confined between washer 25 which bears against the sleeve G and washer 2G which bears against a pin 27 mounted in the rod 21.

Secured to the dome head 2 so as to surround the manhole opening is a flanged collar 28 having a screw threaded opening in which is mounted the manhole cover 29. The cover has the screw threaded' ilange 80 adapted to engage with the collar 28 and the flange Ellis provided with a plurality et f causing the sleeve x6 is operated by sliding' the'hnbll et' the hand wheel 12 along the sleeve 6 and rotatiiigit in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2., until the headsio't'lthe-rivet 20 are engaged in the undercut slots 19 in -the sleeve, (i. lontinu'edrotation ofthe'hand wheel 12 in -av cloclm'i'se direction Vwill then 4rotate the sleeve 6in the bracket thev sl'ot 25E-as-Wellasfrotatingthe rod 2l-and the -valve onltsse'at. -The spr1ng2a helps to hold the valve toits seatluntil the .i pin -22 engages Vthe `upper-end orthe slot 23, `when the valve will be lifted-and .the discharge portopened. Y If the-manholef.cover is replaced andthe `disci-large valve has not been closed, Aafter the cover 29 has been screwed `part Way down, the-teeth A33 on the-rim S32-Willem gage with the teethilllon therim .13. olithe hand avheeland Will rotate the hand Wheel 12 insa counter-clockwise direction, Y Rotation `in this direction -Will disengage lthe slots 19 lfrom `'the heads of' the rivet -`20 'f and perinitthe hub' 11e-to slide on the sleevey G until -it engages tthe collar 9. This -niay 'cause `the teeth 1.a and-.33 to becoineseparated, but continued rotation of' the'inanhole cover 2S) will cause-theteeth 1a and 33 .to rerengage:and'rotate the hand Wheel12 on the sleeve 6 until AVthegpaivl 1S lengages with onefol `the projections 10.- "llhereafter the sleevet VWillrotate `with thehand Wheel 112 and bellowered inthe'bra'cket fl thus lowering -therod until the valve engagesovith its seat. Furtherrotation of the cover 29 until the packing engages the'eollar 28 will vcause the hand Wheel 12 Yailidlsleeve/ to rotate, rotatingfthe'valve upon its seat and vto be flowered in Vthe bracket-la until the pinY 22 engages the bottom of the 'slot 23. rs *the sleeve 6 `is lowered, the spring `2li Vwill be compressed and the valve-forced to its seat under agradually increased pressure. v

' YIn the anodied structure shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, thedome sheet 1 carries the dome head 2 having the usual flanged collar 28 surirounding themanhole opening in thedome head 2. Secured to the deine Vsheet 1 by the' rivets Slis the bracket@V having the screw threaded opening therein. Mounted in theopening is therscrew lthreaded sleeve having a cylindrical bore 3G thaterztends the greater part of the length of the sleeve '1l causing the sleevev `6to he elevatedlandinovingthe pin 22'1n 35. Slidablymounted in the bore 3G is the valve rod 271 carrying a pin 37 that travels 1n slots 38 in the sleeve 35. The pin 37 is provided with cylindrical bushings 39 Where it engagesthe slots 38a'nd isheld in position by the nut 40. Surrounding the rod 2l 1s the spring 2a confined between thewasher 25, which bears Aagainst the i lo Wer end ofb the `sleeve 35,Y an d the Washer l26 which "bears against thepin 2T mounted in tl1erotl21.

The upper end ol!V the sleeve 35 is provided with apyrainidal extension fll upon which is mounted a Yhand wheel 4t2 oll the usual. type retained Kin place fbyvthe pin 'l in Athe.extension al. Operation-ofthe hand Vwheelinone direction willi-aise the sleeve 35 infthe-opening in thebraeket the valve being vrotated Aupon f its seat runtil ,the .pin 37 engages theend `oli the slotV 3S, whereupon thelvalve isr-aisedrom'its seat. vRotating the hand Wheelin the oppositedirectionwill lower thesleeve inthe bracket .opening 5j rotatingthe valve andbringingthe valve to its seat. "-.Continued rotation otlthe wheel will compress .the spring T2a and rforce the valve to its seat under .zi-gradually iincrea-sing lpresure until .the pin 37 4engages :the end of theslot- 88.

. Screwed into the opening in thefianged collar=l28istlre manhole cover L13 provided with anlintegral projecting lug. Oetinger 44, rEhe projection" .f4.4 isnt such length that there is suiicient clearancefto perinitrofthe cover L3 being .prOpel'ly seated when the valve'is seatedandthe sleeve 'loxvered to the limit of its movement. AIt the sleeve 35 is notiproperly.positioned thezprojection ll-l Willr engage iviththe hand Wheel 42 and pre vent the manhole cover 4?) being properly seatedv upon the'collar 28.

Vhat I claim is: i

vl. In a tank car, a valve operating nierhanism comprising ahan'd ivheel. av manhole cover and means carried by said cover adapted to engage said hand Wheel.

`.2. Ina tank car, a valve operating.mechanism comprising a hand Wheel, amanhole cover and a projection ou said i-nanholerover adapted to engage ivith said Shand Wheel. .when the valve is-open.

f3. ln atank car, a valve operating mechanism eon'iprising aliand ivheel, a manhole cover and means carried hv said cover adapted to operate said hand `wheel upon rotation ofV said-cover.

i. In a tank car, a valve ol-)erat-ingmechanism comprising a hand Wheelrgear teeth on said hand wheel, a manhole cover and gear teethcarried by said manhole corea Vadapted towengage with the teeth onsaid hand wheel to operate said hand ivlieelf vln a tank car. a valveoperating mecha nism comprising a sleeve. a liaiuiivlieel journaled onsaidsleeve and adaptedto operate said sleeve7 a manhole cover and means earlili! adapted to connect said ried by said cover hand wheel. n p

6. In'a tank car, a valve operating mer-hanism comprising a sleeve, a hand Wheel joui'- naledl on said sleeve, a pawl and ratchet connection between said hand Wheel and said sleeve, a manhole cover and means carried b v said cover adapted to operate said hand wheel.

In a tank car, a valve operating' mechanism comprising' a sleeve, a hand Wheel, means adapted to connect said hand Wheel and said sleeveY for rotation in one direction, means adapted to connect said hand Wheel and said sleeve for rotation in the opposite direction a valve operating,` rod operated byV said sleeve and connection between said sleeve and rod permitting' relative longitudinal movements of said sleeve and rod.

8. In a tank car, a valve operating' mechanism comprising a sleeve., a hand Wheel, means adapted to automatically connect said hand wheel and said sleeve t'or rotation in one direction and means adapted to connect said hand Wheel and said sleeve tor rotation adapted to operate said Vin the opposite directionwvhen said hand Wheel. isshifted upon said sleeve.

9. In a tank car, a valve operating mechanism comprising' a sleeve, a hand Wheel journaled on said sleeve, a paivl and ratchet hand wheel and said sleeve when said hand Wheel is rotated in Vone direction and a pin and slot connection tor said hand Wheel and said sleeve when said hand wheel is rotated in the other direction.

l0. In a tank car, a valve operating' mechanism comprising' a sleeve. a hand Wheel and means adapted to connect said hand Wheel to 'said sleeve tor rotation in .both directions, said means beine' adapted to dis connect said hand "wheel trom said sleeve upon reversal ot the direction of rotation.

ll. In a tank car, a valve operating' mechanism and a manhole cover adapted to be threaded on said tank and to rotate said operating mechanism to seat the valve during the seating of the cover.

i2. In a tank car, a valve operatingmechanism.. a manhole cover and gear teeth on said mechanism and said cover adapted to mesh to operate the valve (linking the seatinel et the cover.

i3. In a tank car, a lol'lgritndinally movable valve operating' mechanism, rotatable means to operate said valve operating means and a'manhole cover adapted to operate said rotatable means to seat the valve during' the seating' ot the cover. said valve operating" means being' adapted to hold said valve to its seat upon the removal otsaid cover.

let. In a tank car, a valve operating mechanism comprising` a hand Wheel adapted to operate the valve and a manhole cover adapted to operate the hand Wheel to rotate the valve and to gradually vary the pressure exerted upon the valve.

l5. In a tank car, a valve operatinp` mechanism comprising a bracket having' an opening, a sleeve adapted to engage said opening', a valve rod having'a pin and slot connection with said sleeve, a hand Wheel adapted to operate said sleeve and a man- `hole cover adapted to operate said hand a valve operating' a bracket, a sleeve said bracket, vsleeve lsaid sleeve, a valve rod and a connection between said sleeve and valve rod adapted to cause the f'alve rod to rotate With said sleeve and to perm-it the sleeve to move longitudinally of said rod. i

18. In a tank car, a valve operating),` mechanism comprising);` a bracket, a sleeve adapted to be adjusted longitudinally in said bracket, sleevel operating' means loosely mounted on said sleeve, a valve rod rotated by said sleeve and a connection between said sleeve and rod permitting predetermined independent longitudinal movements of said sleeve and valve rod.

19. In a tank car, a dome, a valve operatingmechanism comprising a bracket carried by said dome, a sleeve threaded in 'an opening' in said bracket, means to rotate said sleeve and a valve rod, operated by` rotation of said sleeve, adapted to be rotated bv the initial. movement otv said sleeve and to be rotated and moved longitudinally upon the continued rotation oat said sleeve.

20. In a tank car, a dome, a valve operating' mechanism comprising a bracket carried by said dome, a sleeve mounted in said bracket, means to operate said sleeve, a valve rod rotated by said sleeve, a pin and slot connection between said valve rod and sleeve and a spring` tending to separate said valve rod and sleeve.

.f2-l. In a tank car, a tank havingdischarge and manhole openings, a valve for said discharge opening', operating means for said valve, a cover for said manhole opening', and means on said cover to project into said tank and engage with said valve operating means when said valve is in open position.

22. In a tank car, a tank having` discharge and manhole openings, a valve for said discharge opening', operating' means for said valve, a cover :tor saidy manhole opening, and means projecting from said cover ,lio engage 'with sdid` operating mochansm when said vulve is im 013911 postom.

In a tank our, 121, tank having dsohm-ge and manhole openings, said discharge opening, opmatng means im' saizdj valve, a: @over for said manhole opening, and means within said tia-11k and operated bySa-id @over to enga-ge said valvea valve for' open position.

In Wrtness whereof l have hereunto sul; l0 my hemd'n the presence oif two Wltnessses.

ALLEN E, @SWR YVitnesses HERBERT J. YVAHL, BEssm D. STRONG.

ANDER 

